U.S. Bank College Visa credit card review

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When you’re in college, staying on top of your bills can be a challenge – especially if your schedule is already crammed with a full slate of classes, an active social life, a campus job or other extracurricular activities.

We’ve all been there, which is why we like the extra bill-scheduling perks offered by the U.S. Bank College Visa card. If you have a hard time remembering to pay bills on time, a card that offers help through automatic bill payments and frequent text reminders could be just what you need.

Customizable payment options

The card comes loaded with customizable tools you can use to organize payments and schedule them in a way that works for you. For example, the card’s FlexControl feature lets you set up automatic payments so you don’t have to think about when bills are due. The tool also lets you schedule auto-payments for specific everyday purchases. Or, if you’re in a hurry to shave your balance, you can select an accelerated payment option. We also like that the card’s FlexControl feature lets you choose when the bill is due so you can pick a date that works better for your schedule.

Extra reminders for the busy and/or organizationally challenged

The U.S. Bank College Visa also offers mobile alerts, which can be a lifesaver if you frequently forget when your balance is due or need a warning if you’re dangerously close to your limit. The mobile alerts also let you know when your statement is ready, when a payment is posted and when a payment is overdue.

A safer card for credit newbies

The U.S. Bank College Visa is one of the safest college cards on the market since it doesn’t hike your interest rate if you miss a payment. This is a big deal – particularly if you’re just starting out and getting used to paying bills on time. Some student cards charge penalty APRs as high as 30 percent. This card does charge $38 if you miss a payment, though, which is slightly more than some other student cards charge.

Better than average interest rate

The interest rate on the U.S. Bank College Visa is just slightly better than the average student credit card. At 12.24 percent, the starting rate is especially low compared to other student cards and may be a good deal if you can qualify. Meanwhile, the card’s maximum rate of 21.24 percent is in the middle range for student cards. Like most student card APRs, the maximum rate is fairly high for a credit card, but it’s significantly lower than the maximum rate offered on some other student cards.

Zero rewards, zero promotions

The biggest downside to the U.S. Bank College Visa card is that it doesn’t offer a rewards program. We prefer cards that help put money back in cardholders’ pockets. If you carry a balance and can qualify for this card’s lowest available interest rate, you might prefer this no-frills card since rewards cards typically carry much higher rates. But if you’re stuck with a higher interest rate, you might have a hard time justifying this card’s relatively high cost. This card also gets low marks from us because it doesn’t offer any interest-free promotions. A zero-percent balance transfer offer can save you a lot of money if you need to transfer a larger balance from another card. So, too, can an introductory interest-free APR if you need to borrow for a major purchase.

Why get the U.S. Bank College Visa card?

• You need help remembering to pay your credit card bill and would benefit from mobile reminders or automatic card payments.
• You don’t care about earning rewards with your spending.
• You repay your card in full each month and aren’t interested in an introductory APR or zero percent balance transfer offer.
• You want a safer card that won’t hike your interest rate if you accidentally miss a payment.

How to use the U.S. Bank College Visa card:

• Take advantage of the card’s custom payment options by choosing a payment plan that works with your schedule and monthly budget.
• Set up automatic payments so that you don’t incur late charges or accidentally ding your credit score.
• Take advantage of the card’s text alerts so that you aren’t surprised by an impending bill or maxed-out credit limit.